If you want to chop, mix and cook your weeknight meals in one appliance, choose a food processor with a cooking function. If your main needs are grating, slicing or kneading, and you prefer to cook separately, a food processor without a cooking function may be a better fit. A stand mixer with a cooking function is worth considering if kneading is your priority. In each case, compare the usable capacity, included accessories, cleaning requirements and dimensions with the recipes you usually make.
If soups, sauces, stews or steamed dishes feature regularly on your menu, combining food preparation and cooking in one appliance could suit your routine. Check that the controls and programmes match the meals you actually make during the week.
If you’re making a family meal or several portions at once, compare the usable capacity with the quantities in your recipes, rather than looking only at the bowl’s stated total volume.
If you spend more time chopping, grating, slicing, blending or kneading than keeping an eye on the cooking, a food processor without a cooking function may be a better match for your main tasks, provided you have another way to cook.
Consider it if: you want to prepare and cook soups, sauces or stews in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the bowl and its parts, as well as any recipe services, need to suit your available space and cleaning routine.
Consider it if: kneading and preparing dough are your main priorities, with some cooking functions as a bonus.
Bear in mind: check the accessories and cooking modes separately to make sure they suit the savoury meals you prepare.
Consider it if: chopping or mixing ingredients is your main need and you cook using your own pans or oven.
Bear in mind: a food processor doesn’t automatically offer the cooking functions of a food processor with a cooking function.
Once you’ve chosen the type of appliance, think about the meals you make most often. They’ll determine the capacity, functions and cleaning requirements that matter to you.
| Criteria | What to check | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cooking | Check that it has the modes you need for three of your regular meals, and see which tasks you can do in the same bowl. | If soups and stews are regulars on my menu, I want to prepare and cook without using multiple appliances; around 42% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Suitable capacity | Compare the usable capacity, fill limit and steamer capacity with the quantities you prepare. | To serve several portions without splitting the recipe, I need a volume I can actually use; this would be the main need for around 33% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and storage | Check which accessories are included, which parts are dishwasher-safe and the dimensions of the assembled appliance. | If I use the food processor several times a week, I want to be able to clean and store its parts easily; around 25% of consumers would prioritise this ease of use. |
The total volume doesn’t necessarily match the amount you can cook or blend at once. The limit can also vary depending on what you’re preparing.
Compare the usable capacity and fill limit with your usual recipes. If you often use the steamer basket or make thick mixtures, check the limits for those separately.
A food processor that can take a slicing accessory or a smaller bowl doesn’t necessarily come with those parts. Moulinex sells some Companion accessories separately.
Check what’s included with the exact model number and identify the accessories you need for your meals before comparing appliances.
Access to some recipes or planning features may depend on a separate service. Vorwerk, for example, states that a subscription is required for Cookidoo on the Thermomix TM7.
Check how long any introductory offer lasts, the terms for continued access and what the appliance can do without the service.
Chopping, grating or kneading isn’t the same as simmering a sauce or steaming food. The preparation functions available also depend on the accessories supplied with the model you choose.
Decide whether your main challenge is preparing ingredients or cooking them, then check for the functions and accessories you need.
The Thermomix TM7 combines cooking with guided recipes through Cookidoo and has a 10-inch touchscreen, according to Vorwerk.
For the Companion HF840110, Moulinex lists a 3 L usable capacity, 12 automatic programmes and a set of basic accessories for a range of tasks.
The Cook Expert range includes several versions. Magimix lists a 2.5 L usable capacity for the Cook Expert Connect, compared with a total capacity of 3.5 L.
Lidl lists a 4.5 L bowl for the Monsieur Cuisine Smart, with a maximum fill capacity of 3 L.
These two Robby food processors with cooking functions are for anyone who wants to prepare meals using a cooking appliance with a touchscreen. To choose between them, pay particular attention to the usable capacity and the accessories included with the model you select.
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Worth considering if you’d like to follow your preparations on a large touchscreen. The product title mentions an XL bowl and built-in scales; compare the usable capacity and included accessories with the recipes you usually make.
Check which parts are dishwasher-safe and which recipes are available with this model.
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Worth considering if following recipes on a screen is part of your routine. The product title lists built-in scales and 680 recipes; check how you access them before buying.
For your portion sizes and everyday cleaning, check the fill limit, included accessories and which parts are dishwasher-safe.
Choose a usable capacity that suits the quantities in your usual recipes, rather than judging by the total volume alone. Moulinex lists a usable capacity of 3 L for the Companion HF840110; Lidl gives the Monsieur Cuisine Smart a 4.5 L bowl with a maximum fill capacity of 3 L. Also check any limits for steaming or thick mixtures.
No, the accessories vary by model. Moulinex lists several basic accessories for the Companion HF840110, but sells a vegetable slicer and mini bowl separately, among other items. Compare the included accessories with the tasks you do every week.
Check exactly which parts are dishwasher-safe and how many items you’ll need to wash after making your usual recipes. Que Choisir recommends considering how easy an appliance is to clean. Even if a brand lists a pre-cleaning programme, check the washing instructions for each part.
It depends on the appliance and the service it uses. For the Thermomix TM7, Vorwerk lists specific access terms for new Cookidoo subscribers. Before choosing a model for its recipes, check what’s included, how long any introductory offer lasts and which functions are available without a subscription.
For goods bought by an individual from a professional seller in France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished products, according to the French Ministry of the Economy. This is separate from any commercial warranty offered by the brand. Keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller to make a claim.